Device for grouping and bundling rod-like members



Feb. 18, 196'? J. E. GLASSON DEVICE FOR GROUPING AND BUNDLING ROD-LIKE MEMBERS Filed March 20, 1967 Sheet )NVENTOE. dFA/V E/I/Z 614.550 BY @WLzW ATTOBA/EYS Feb. 18, 1969 J. E. GLASSON 3,427,958

DEVICE FOR GROUPING AND BUNDLING ROD-LIKE MEMBERS Filed March 20, 1967 Sheet 2 of 2 .II. ,INI 1 II IQH:

I 2, I 2/ w 1 l'zfll fl- I 'HMM 1" u I! i H .i ['1 1| 1! u H 1! 1 I I l 25% m igw 4 TI'OEMFYS United States Patent 3,427,958 DEVICE FOR GROUPING AND BUNDLING ROD-LIKE MEMBERS Jean Emile Glasson, Argenteuil, France, assignor to Botalam, Paris, France, a corporation of France Filed Mar. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 624,310 Claims priority, application France, Apr. 6, 1966, 56,654 US. Cl. 100--7 6 Claims Int. Cl. B65b 13/02; B65g 19/02, 19/24 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for grouping and bundling rod-like members having a conveyor comprised by at least a pair of adjacent endless chains rotatably driven and connected by an adjustment device for permitting relative movement to occur between said chains as desired so as to vary the phase relationship therebetween. Each of said chains has bundling members secured thereto which cooperate to define a substantially V-shaped grouping and bundling space for receiving the rod-like members. The bundling space is defined by a front wall member secured to one of the chains and a rear wall member secured to the other chain, where by relative movement between the chains permits adjustment of the spacing between the wall members to vary the size and configuration of the bundling space.

This invention relates to an installation for binding oblong fagots comprising binding means provided with at least one binding head adapted to place, tighten and knot ties around an oblong fagot placed in the binding position and conveyor means for receiving said oblong fagot and bringing it first into the binding position, then into the discharge position.

Installations of this type have already been employed, especially for the purpose of forming bundles from a predetermined number of bars or other structural sections, or alternatively for the purpose of forming fagots from a predetermined number of bundles.

However, the installations which are at present in use are not free from disadvantages.

In particular, the conveyor means which are employed in such plants fail to ensure that the bars or bundles which are presented to the binding heads in the form of fagots correspond with a sufiicient degree of approximation to a circular cross-sectional configuration. Consequently, after being tightened together and bound, the bars or bundles tend to settle and the tie no longer holds them together with the requisite firmness.

A further well-known disadvantage of installations of this type lies in the fact that they do not always operate with optimum efliciency. In fact, it frequently occurs that an installation which is designed to tie bundles for the purpose of constituting fagots follows an installation which ties structural sections for the purpose of forming bundles. It is manifestly apparent that, under these conditions, the rate of production of the second installation is a submultiple of the production rate of the first; if the number of ties is the same and if the fagot is made up of n bunles, the second installation places n times less ties than the first and therefore has a highly unsatisfactory performance from an economic standpoint.

The present invention is intended to circumvent the disadvantages referred to and, with this object in mind, is directed to a binding installation which is essentially characterized in that the conveyor means are cradles which are carried by endless chains constituting the base of said cradles and that the upstream and downstream side-plates of said cradles are coupled to two adjacent chains having adjustable relative longitudinal positions.

The result thereby achieved is that the cross-sectional configuration of a cradle can be adapted either to the number of bars or to the number of bundles which it is intended to accommodate by adjusting the relative longitudinal positions of the adjacent chains in such a manner as to ensure that the shapes assumed by the fagots will be as close as possible to their final shape when tied.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, all the chains fitted with upstream cradle-plates are coupled for rotation with each other so as to form a group of thrust chains and all the chains fitted with downstream cradleplates are coupled for rotation so as to form a group of traction chains, the relative longitudinal positions of the two groups being adjustable.

This arrangement makes it possible to adjust the shape of the cradles in a single operation for the entire binding installation.

As an advantageous feature, the driven sprockets of the chains are carried both by the countershafts and by at least one drive shaft on which the driven sprockets of one group are keyed and on which the driven sprockets of the other group are mounted to rotate freely as well as by an adjustment shaft on which the arrangement is the reverse and which can be driven either at low speed for adjustment purposes or in synchronism with the drive shaft for normal operation.

It is apparent that this arrangement permits of very simple adjustment operations which are carried out solely by driving the adjustment shaft at low speed, with the result that all the cradle-plates of the corresponding group are displaced with respect to the cradle-plates of the other group.

In order to prevent the group last mentioned from being displaced by friction drive, the drive shaft is provided with a brake which is applied during the adjustment operation performed by the adjustment shaft.

Although a wide range of different shapes is open to selection in the design of the upstream and downstream cradle-plates which can accordingly be endowed with a curved profile, for example, it has proved sufiicient in the majority of cases to incline said plates at an angle of approximately 60.

The cradles thus formed have the shape of a semihexagon. A shape which is fairly close to that of a hexagon is thus imparted to the pile of fagots received by said cradles and formed between the two cradle-plates.

In order to ensure that the installations in accordance with the invention operate with optimum efiiciency, the number of binding heads must in certain cases be smaller than the number of ties to be knotted around a same fagot, and the binding means are accordingly adapted to move transversely for the purpose of executing a number of binding operations beneath the carrying run of the conveyor-means within a space which is left free by the return runs.

When a binding installation operates at a production speed which is substantially lower than either one or a number of similar installations placed upstream, it is possible by virtue of the extremely advantageous arrangement noted in the foregoing to perform a number of binding operations on a single fagot and in many instances to complete all of the binding operations by means of a single binding head which is placed in turn in the successive positions which are necessary.

The conveyor means can in such cases be provided with four countershafts or drive shafts so arranged as to define a space of substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration inside which a binding machine is mounted on rails.

A clear understanding of the invention will in any case be gained from the description which now follows, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example without any limitation being implied, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the installation;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the arrangement of the shafts; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively a side view and an overhead plan view on a large scale showing the manner in which a cradle-plate is mounted on one of the chains of the installation.

Referring first to FIG. 1, it is seen that an installation according to the invention can be mounted in a pit 1 which is designed to accommodate alternately bases 2 in the form of an inverted U and flat bases 3 which rest on the bottom of the pit.

Each inverted-U base is in turn adapted to accommodate an upstream bearing unit 4 and a downstream bearing unit 5 on which are supported respectively a top upstream countershaft 6 and a downstream drive shaft 7.

Each fiat base 3 is in turn adapted to accommodate a bottom downstream bearing unit 8 on which is supported an adjustment shaft 9 and, at the upstream end, a casing 10 in which is mounted a jack 11, said jack being in turn H adapted to actuate an arm 12 which is pivotally mounted at 13.

The series of arms 13 carries the bottom upstream countershaft 14 which thus operates as a tension regulator.

The four shafts 6, 7, 9 and 14 carry a certain number of sprockets 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 which are placed at the level of the intervals between two bases 2, there being passed over said sprockets continuous chains 21 and 22 which therefore have an active top run 23, or carrying run, and return runs 24, 24 and 25.

It can be seen that the assembly as thus described leaves a free transverse space 26 which is delimited by the succession of inverted-U bases 2, by the frontal faces of the bearing units 4 and 5, and by the top runs 23 of the hains.

Rails 27 have been laid across the entire width of the transverse space referred to above and therefore span the gaps between the bases 2, a binding machine 28 of known type being adapted to run on said rails.

It will be recalled that a machine of this type is composed, for example, of a stationary frame 29 and a frame 30 which are interconnected by a number of arms 31, said arms being pivotally attached at 32 to the stationary frame and elbowed in order to be subjected to the action of a jack 33 which accordingly permits the possibility of adjusting the height of the frame 30 between a position in which it is shown in full lines to a position shown in chain-dotted lines.

The top face of the frame 30 is provided with two binding jaws 34 which are shown in the work position and in chain-dotted lines in the open position. The arms 34 are adapted to clamp together a bundle assembly of structural shapes or sections, then to place and knot a length of binding twine around said bundle assembly.

The installation is completed by an upstream conveyor 35 which is capable of bringing one by one or in groups a predetermined number of bundles 36 so as to form at the upstream end the bundle assembly 37 which will be tied at 38, then discharged at 39 in the form of fagots by any conventional means which have not been illustrated.

From the drawings, it is apparent that, between the position 37 and the position 39, the grouped bundles are received both before and after knotting in cradles which will now be described in greater detail.

Firstly, FIGS. 3 and 4 show the manner in which there is formed a chain of the type designated by the reference 21 or 22, the links of which are fitted in the usual manner with roller link plates 40 which are fitted over roller pins 41 and spaced by means of bushings 42.

However, the outer extremities of some of the roller pins 41 are fitted at 43 with bar-link extensions 44 which are pivotally connected in pairs by means of a common pivot-pin 45.

FIG. 3 shows that the bar-links 44 have approximately the same length as the interval between two roller pins 43 on which they are carried, the resultant configuration being approximately that of an equilateral triangle when looking on the side. The plates 46 or 47 which join two parallel bar-links 44 are therefore inclined at an angle of approximately 60 with respect to the horizontal plane determined by the chains 21 or 22.

The intended function of the plates 46 and 47 is to form either the downstream side 46 or the upstream side 47 of the successive cradles which are shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 and the bottom of which is constituted by the chains themselves.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it is seen that the chains 21 work in conjunction with sprocket-wheels 16 which are keyed to the shaft 7 and with sprocket-wheels 18 which are mounted to rotate freely on the shaft 9. Each sprocketwheel is adjacent to a chain 22 which, on the contrary, works in conjunction with a sprocket 17 which is mounted to rotate freely on the shaft 7 and with a sprocket 19 which is keyed to the shaft 9.

There are thus constituted two groups of chains, namely the group 21 on the one hand and the group 22 on the other hand; the group 21, or so-called thrust chains, are intended to be driven by the shaft 7 and receive the upstream cradle-plates 47. On the contrary, the second group 22 or so-called traction chains, are intended to be driven by the shaft 9, and receive the downstream cradleplates such as the plate 46.

In FIG. 1, there can be seen a chain 21 with the upstream cradle-plates 47 concealing a chain 22 with the downstream plates 46 of the corresponding cradles.

Referring again to FIG. 2, it is observed that the shaft 7 is equipped with a driving motor M and a brake F Whilst the shaft 9 is equipped with a driving motor M a dogclutch C and a regulating motor R.

Provision has also been made between the two shafts for a synchronization chain CS which is adapted to work in conjunction with two driven sprockets P and P; which are keyed on the two shafts.

The installation which has just been described operates as follows:

It will first of all be assumed that the motor R is disengaged, that the brake F is released and that the motors M and M are driven in synchronism.

Under these conditions, all of the chains 21 and 22 are in turn driven in synchronism and the controlled operation of the motors permits the step-by-step displacement of said chains so that the cradles are moved successively from position 37 to position 38, then to position 39. In the first position, the cradles receive bundles 36 which form an assembly or pile having a cross-sectional configuration which is generally similar to that of a regular hexagon.

In the position 38, the bundle assembly thus formed is tied. Then, in position 39, the completed fagot can be discharged by any known means.

So far as the binding operation is concerned, it will be noted that an appreciable length of time is allowed for this operation inasmuch as the installation herein described receives bundles which must each be formed in turn on the upstream side from the bars or other structural sections. It accordingly follows, for example, that, if a fagot comprises twenty-five bundles, the number of binding operations to be performed in the installation described will therefore be twenty-five times less than the number of binding operations entailed in the upstream installation which forms the bundles, assuming that the number of ties is the same for a bundle as it is for a fagot.

There is thus ample time available for the binding operation, which is carried out as follows:

The binding machine is placed in the binding or tying position in readiness for the first tie. By means of the jack 33, the machine is set in the position shown in full lines in which it is in readiness to execute the binding operation. The jack 33 is then once again actuated so as to produce the downward motion of the frame 30 while the jaws 34 remain open, thereby permitting the displacement of the complete unit along the rails 27 so as to reach a second binding position. The jack 33 is again put into operation so as to raise the frame 30, a second tie is placed in position and so forth until a given fagot has received all its ties.

However, it may subsequently prove necessary to tie bundle assemblies of either greater or smaller bulk consisting of either larger or smaller bundles. In such a case, the bundles may take up at 37 a volume which is either too large or too small and therefore do not correspond with sufiicient approximation to a circular cross-sectional configuration to permit them to be correctly assembled at 38.

The procedure to be adopted in such a case is as follows:

When the installation is at rest, the dog-clutch C is disengaged and the brake F is applied. The motor R is started up and accordingly initiates the displacement of the group of chains 22 with respect to the group of chains 21, that is to say a displacement of the downstream cradle-plates with respect to the upstream cradle-plates. This operation makes it possible to adjust the width of the cradles, whereupon the brake F is released and the dog-clutch C is engaged.

It is thus evident that the profile of the cradles is always adapted to provide the most effective clamping of the bundle assemblies at 38.

Moreover, it will be apparent that the mode of execution of the invention which has just been described has been given solely by way of non-limitative example and that a large number of modifications could be contemplated without thereby departing either from the scope or the spirit of the invention.

In particular, in the case of an installation which is intended to operate at a higher production speed and particularly in the case of an installation for tying bundles made up of structural shapes, the single binding machine 28 may prove inadequate and it would in such a case be possible to provide a number of such machines corresponding to the number of tying operations to be performed. It is also apparent that any intermediate solutions can be contemplated and that it would be possible, for example, to provide a number of binding machines each adapted to perform only a predetermined number of binding operations. What I claim is: 1. A device for grouping and bundling a plurality of elongated rod-like members, comprising:

conveyor means for receiving thereon a plurality of said rod-like members and for transporting same primarily in a horizontal direction, said conveyor means including at least two endless flexible drive members having substantially parallel and adjacent upper runs;

drive means including pulley means connected to said drive members for supporting and synchronously driving same;

grouping means secured to and movable with said drive members for receiving rod-like members therein and for forming same into a bundle, said grouping means including a first cradle member secured to and extending outwardly from one of said drive members and a second cradle member secured to and extending outwardly from the other of said drive members, said first and second cradle members being opposed to and spaced from each other in the direction of movement of said drive members;

said first and second cradle members respectively having outwardly diverging and opposing first and second surfaces defining a substantially V-shaped space having a substantially flat base defined by said drive members;

adjustment means for effecting relative movement between said two endless drive members whereby said first and second opposing surfaces can be moved toward or away from each other so as to vary the size of the space therebetween; and

binding means for securing together a plurality of said elongated rod-like members when said plurality of members is positioned within said space.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first surface extends forwardly in the direction of movement of said one drive member at an angle of approximately 60 relative to the elongated direction of said one endless drive member; and wherein said second surface extends rearwardly in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said other endless drive member at an angle of approximately 60 relative to the elongated direction of said other drive member, whereby said confronting surfaces define therebetween an outwardly opening angle of approximately 60.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first cradle member includes first and second link members connected together adjacent one end thereof, the other end of said link members being connected to said one endless drive member in laterally spaced relation so as to define with said drive member a substantially triangular configuration; and wherein said second cradle member includes first and second link members connected together adjacent one end thereof, the link members being connected at the other end thereto to said other endless drive member in laterally spaced relation so as to also define a substantially triangular configuration.

47 A device according to claim 3, wherein said two endless flexible drive members comprise chains, and wherein the two link members of each of said first and second cradle members are pivotally connected adjacent said one end thereof and are pivotally connected to their respective chains adjacent the other ends thereof; and said first and second cradle members further including plate members fixedly secured to one of said link members with said plate members defining said opposing surfaces.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said binding means is positioned adjacent the upper runs of said drive members for engaging a plurality of elongated rod-like members positioned within said grouping means and for bundling and binding same into a single bundle.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said two endless drive members comprise chains and wherein said pulley means includes at least four substantially parallel shafts with each of said shafts having first and second sprocket members thereon with said first sprocket members rotatably supporting one endless chain and said second sprocket members rotatably supporting said other endless chain;

one of said first sprocket members being fixedly secured to one of said shafts with the second sprocket member on said one shaft being mounted on said shaft for rotational movement relative thereto, whereby said one endless chain is rotatably driven by said one shaft;

a further one of said shafts having its respective second sprocket member fixedly secured thereto for rotatably driving said other endless chain, the first sprocket member on the further one of said shafts being rotatably mounted relative thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,815,372 7/1931 Frazier 198-180 2,736,421 2/1956 Bell 198---168 2,838,992 6/1958 Demler l00--32 2,844,242 7/ 1958 Panuline 198168 3,135,076 6/ 1964 Hill.

BILLY J. WILHITE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 16, 26; 198-168 

